Suggestions Needed

Next week it is our turn to bring snack to preschool. Right now the kids are learning about colors, so the kids need to wear something of that color and the snack should be that color as well.

Our color is red. So Lilypad Princess and I need to bring a snack that is easy for the kids to eat, doesn't need any immediate preparation (I can do things at home, but it needs to be ready to serve there) and is red. Luckily there aren't any food allergies in the group.

I like to try to bring something healthy, preferable a fruit and a protein since most of the kids have swimming after preschool then go home and crash for a nap. The last time we brought snack (without any color restrictions) I brought cheese sticks, whole wheat crackers, and raisins. Other than apples and strawberries (are they even in season?), I'm really stuck with red for some reason. So please, let me know all your suggestions!

Lilypad Likes - Olive Kids

Growing up I could never find my name on personalized license plates, pencils, bracelets, or barrettes. Or if they did have my name, it was never spelled the right way. And while the name we gave Lilypad Princess is rapidly growing in popularity, it still isn't easy to find things personalized for her.

If a little prince or princess in your life has a difficult name to find, Olive Kids is here to help. Olive Kids not only carries an adorable line of bedding, rugs and room accessories, but they have their own line of products that you can have personalized with any name you want.

We just received a set of 5 personalized placemats, and 2 nametags for LP's backpack and suitcase. The placemats are adorable, we got the girl set shown above. They are large, colorful, and very easy to wipe clean. LP has been telling me all about the mermaids since we opened the package. We also got the personalized name tags with the mermaids.

I really love their personalized floor pillows. They are 20" x 26" x 2" and the covers are removable and washable.

They also have adorable kids bedding and matching drawer pulls.

Weekly Weight Loss Update

It was a disappointing week weight-wise, I didn't lose any weight, but I didn't gain either. I did lose .3% body fat and 8 inches though, so it wasn't a completely disappointing week.

I did well with my eating, although I didn't count points exactly I stayed on track. I also did well with the gym, I made it 5 days this week.

Monday: off
Tuesday: 45 min. Water Aerobics
Wednesday: 45 min. Water Aerobics
Thursday: 45 min. Strength Circuit class & 30 minutes on elliptical trainer
Friday: 45 Cardio Circuit class and 20 minutes on the elliptical trainer
Saturday: off
Sunday: 30 min. elliptical trainer 30 minutes on circuit machines, hand weights, & abs

Little Gym Award Day

Today was the final class for this sessions Little Gym. This was the third session of Little Gym for Lilypad Princess and her friends. LP, Munchkinetta, and Buby had a great time swinging from the bars, crossing the beam, shaking the parachute, and especially chasing each other and jumping.

Lilypad Princess was not as thrilled about the medal ceremony this time, even though she ran right up the stairs to get it, she refused to smile for the camera. But for the first time we were able to get all the kids together for a group photo.

1 Year Later

Lilypad Princess first started taking classes at the Little Gym in September 2006. Her first medal day was January 23, 2007, almost exactly 1 year ago. She has developed so much more confidence and coordination in that year, but still loves to do the same things during class. We have added some new favorites through, last year at this time the air track just brought tears, now it's a favorite she doesn't want to get off.

I can't believe how much she has grown and changed in this one year.

Although I think the medal ceremony has lost some of it's glamour, she's not nearly as excited about it now as she was the first time.

Four Eyes

Lately I've been trying to get caught up on my health. Making appointments I haven't been good about making over the last two year, doctor, dentist, etc. I've realized that I need to find a new optometrist and get my eyes checked because it's been much too long. I need some new reading glasses, I have no idea what I did with my old pair after the move.

I just found out about this site which is really interesting.
Zenni Optical: Sell Rx Glasses $8 with case!
They sell only frames that they manufacture directly to their customer so they are able to keep their prices down. They also do little advertising, passing on the savings to you instead. Complete, single-vision glasses start at just $8.00 and bi-focals start at just $25.

After I have my appointment and get my new prescription, I think I will have to take a closer look at all their frames.


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Lilypad Likes Part 2

I don't know if I ever mentioned it, but I found out at Christmas that Lilypad Dad does read The Lily Pad. He surprised me with the kit for the Round Up My Love fingerprint necklace that I posted about under Lilypad Likes back in December.

Tonight Lilypad Princess, Lilypad Dad and I took out the kit, rolled out the clay, and made the fingerprint mold. Tomorrow we will pack it all back up and mail it off. I cannot wait to see the finished product.

A Word Window

Lilypad Princess loves books. She reads to herself, reads to us, and of course we read to her. She tends to get hooked on the same book for weeks on end, which can lead to a little book boredom for me. But last summer LP's great-Auntie Diane gave her an entire set of books, and we've been working our way through the 15 or 20 book set lately.

The books are all part of the Magic Castle Readers set by Scholastic Books. We have been reading Away Went the Farmer's Hat and The Bears Upstairs almost every night for the past month, but tonight we traded for What Do You Do With a Grumpy Kangaroo? and Smile, says Little Crocodile.

I think these might be out of print of now, the copyright is 1988, but I recommend picking some up if you ever see them at a used book store or tag sale. Each book has a lesson as well, kangaroo teaches about feelings, crocodile teaches about health, the bears teaches about playing pretend, and the farmer's hat is about adventure.

Candy Cane Lane

Oh no! I just had to open another box of my new obsession, Candy Cane Lane tea by Celestial Seasonings. That means I only have one unopened box left, and it isn't in my store anymore. I'm not going to be able to make it until next Christmas, I thought I had more time to stick up, January isn't even over yet!

I discovered Candy Cane Lane for the first time this past Christmas. It is a decaffinated green tea with an irresistible blend of peppermint, creamy vanilla and just a touch of cinnamon and sweet blackberry leaves. It is excellent hot or cold (unfortunately how I end up drinking most of my tea by the time I get to it). It has taken care of any dessert cravings, even my cravings for peppermint ice cream.

If anyone happens to see this while you're out shopping, please let me know so I can stock up for the rest of the year, otherwise all my hard work at the gym will be wasted when I run out and have nothing to subsitute for sweet cravings but peppermint ice cream each night.

New Shoes

Based on a tip from Buby's Mom, Lilypad Princess and I took a ride to the a local children's shoe store. I wasn't sure what size she was wearing anymore, so I wanted to get her size checked, plus they are having a liquidation sale so I wanted to take a look.

It was a good thing we went, she was wearing size 7 shoes, but she is definitely a size 8, inching towards 8.5 very quickly. In European sizing that is a 24, but there are no half sizes, so the woman recommended going with the 25 to get a little more wear out of them.

LP was not in a shoe mood today, which is very unusal. She did not want to take off her pink sneakers, did not want to try anything else on, but did cooperate after she realized we could go to lunch with Munchkinetta and her mom once we were done (they were there buying new shoes as well).

We ended up with the navy blue, t-strap mary jane Naturinos shown above. Naturinos mimic walking on sand and guarantee just the right stability to let the child move freely. They also provide ideal support to the entire foot arch. Best of all, you can remove the insole and throw the rest of the shoe right in the washing machine!

I think these will be perfect for walking around Disney World this spring, as well as for the playground, in the gym at preschool, and daily errands. I do wish the store had them in one of the pink colors shown below in her size though, considering at least half if not more of her wardrobe is pink!